Cotton picking spindle means



May 10, 1960 w. 1.. WOOD COTTON PICKING SPINDLE MEANS Filed April 4, 1958 R mu mm V mL m m m 2,935,835 COTTON PlCKlNG srmnta mans i William L. Wood, 'Ihpelo, Miss assignor to Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application April 4, 1958, Serial No. 726,521

A 8 Claims. (CI. 56-50) This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in spindle means for use in connection with cotton picking. As is well known in the art, a number of cotton picking machines have heretofore been devised for the utilization of rotating spindles for the purpose of effecting removal of the cotton fiber from the bolls.

This invention is particularly related to the so-called wire-like or rod-like spindle of the type generally known as the Rust type or Allis-Chalmers type of spindle, and which is essentially an elongated generally cylindrical rod-like member which in some instances is'fo'rmed of a smooth piano wire and in other instances is formed with elongated corrugations or ribs extending throughout a part of the length ofthe spindle per se.

The present invention comprises a means for improving and enhancing the picking activities of such rod-like spindles, and is further adaptable for use to convert these. spindles and to effect renewal of anysuch spindles pursuant to wear thereof.

One of the principal objections to the utilization of rotating spindles forthe purpose of engaging the cotton fiber for removal thereof from the bolls has been in the generally accepted necessity for using moisture upon such spindles to assist in the fiber engagement by the spindle and thus to promote the removal of the fiber from the cotton boll. This ,has resulted both in difficulties in the removal of such fiber from the spindle after picking, and furthermore has resulted in a deterioration in the grade of the fiber when pulled due to the existence of the moisture and the deleterious effect which the same has upon the fiber. Additionally this has in many instances substantially delayed ginning or other processing of fiber so picked by moistened spindles due to the necessity of effecting drying of same.

Many eiforts, have been heretofore made to overcome the necessity for the use of such moistening means. Among the developments have been the longitudinal corrugations or flutes mentioned above, and other deformations such as dimples and the like have been provided in the surface of the fiber contacting portion of the'spindie in an attempt to enhance the picking ability ofsuch spindles. .'-While these efforts have had some certain advantages, they have not been uniformly. successful in accomplishing the purposes for which undertaken. Additionally it has heretofore been extraordinarily difficult on the occasion of'wear upon any of such spindles to effect replacement of same due to the'necessity of substantially dismantling portions of the machine inorder to provide access to the spindle. assembly. per sci for removal from' the supporting means with the "result that wearing of spindles. has both been an expensivefmatter' for replacement, and has further been a time consuming operation in carrying out.

The present invention is applicable to new spindles of the rod type, which have been discussed hereinabove, and is equally applicable toused spindles of the same type.

The present invention contemplates the utilization of an ing the picking capabilities of'cotton picking spindles.

A further object of the invention is to provide such means which comprise "an elongated sleeve adapted to fit over the picking portion of a cotton picking spindle, and which includes means adapted to more etficiently engage cotton fiber so as to eliminate the necessity of additional means from use in connection with such device.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an elongated sleeve with a longitudinally extending slot lying parallel with the axis of the sleeve, and providing, when engaged upon a cotton picking spindle, circumferentially spaced apart edges.

A further object of the invention is to provide one of the edges of such elongated slot with a plurality of garb-like teeth for the purpose of better engaging cotton ber.

A further object of the invention isto dispose such barb-like teeth along the edge of said slot trailing in the direction of rotation of the spindle upon which the sleeve is mounted during use.

A further object of the inventionqis to provide such. a device in'which the teeth are disposed to lie Within the cylinder of-rotation of the sleeve under rotation of the spindle upon which it is mounted.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device in which the teeth lie closely against the supporting spindle and are projected toward the distal or free end of such spindle.

A further object of the invention is to provide such I a sleeve whichis readily placeable on and removable from a cotton picking spindle; and

A further object of the invention is generally to improve the design, constructiomand eificiency vof means for effecting picking of cotton.

. The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a fragment of spindle supporting means, together with a pair of adjacent spindle assemblies incorporating the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a cotton picking sleeve of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of one of the cotton picking spindle assemblies shown in Fig. 1.

Fig.4 is a view similar to Fig. -3 rotated substantially 90 degrees; and

Fig. 5 is an end view of the assembly shown in Fig. 4. Referring now to the drawings in which the various I parts are indicated by numerals, it will be seen that the present device is particularly adapted for use in con nection with the so-calledv Rust type cotton pickers which have been the subject of numerous Letters Patent, such as: for example Patent No. 2,440,450, and others mentioned in that patent and additional patents which have issued subsequent thereto relating to this type of device. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in the spindle assemblies utilized in such devices, which spindle. assemblies include a generally cylindrical spindle rod 11 having a drive, roller 13 mounted adjacent, but spaced inwardly, from one end of the spindle rod. The elongated major portion of spindle rod 11 provides the portion, which is; generally designated as the picking portion.

Such spindle assemblies are rotatably mounted in suit able supporting means such as the slat 15 fragmentarily shown in Fig. 1 As is well known in the art, slat 15 includes bearings, Which are notshown, for engaging the portions of spindle rod 11 adjacent the opposite sides of drive roller 13 in order to provide for suitable rotational support of the spindle assembly, and, for the purpose of driving the sprindle assemblies, resilient drive rail means 17 are positioned to'engage the spindle rollers under longitudinal travel of the slats along the picking side of cotton picking means in a manner well known in the art, it being understood that in preferable construction the drive rails are disposed between, and in engagement with, adjacent drive rollers in order that the drive means will in general effect rotation of two adjacent spindle assemblies in opposite directions of rotation.

The present invention contemplates the utilization of an elongated sleeve which is adapted for removable mounting upon the picking portion of spindle rod 11. As is well known, the spindle rods 11 are arranged in vertically disposed banks comprising a plurality of spindle rods, and as above stated, the drive rails are preferably positioned so that adjacent spindle rods are rotated in opposite directions during movement along the picking sec-. tion of the cotton picking machine. A typical embodiment of thecotton picking spindle assembly ofthe present invention is shown in the drawings, a preferred em bodiment of the cotton picking sleeve being generally designated at 19. Sleeve 19 has a cylindrical radially inner surface 19' (Fig. and a cylindrical radially outer surface19, both of which surfaces are circumferentially interrupted by a slot 21 which extends the, full length of the sleeve. The portions of the sleevev adjacent to the.

longitudinal, circumferentially opposite sides of the slot 21, respectively, present spaced apart longitudinal edges 23, 25. Sleeve 19 isformed of limitedly resilient material and in its installed condition on the spindle rod 11, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the sleeve 19 snugly and removably embraces the outer end of the spindle rod remote from the associated drive roller 13 and encases a major portion of the length of said rod. One. of the slot edges, as the edge 23, extends preferably straight,

from end to end of the sleeve and is disposed as the rotatively leading edge of the slot in the rotational direction of sleeve 19 when mounted upon spindle rod 11 and the spindle assembly is rotated during use of the cotton, picking machine. The opposite edge 25 of the slot is disposed as the rotatively trailing edge of the slot under such rotation of the spindle assembly.

The portion of the sleeve adjacent the trailing edge 25 is cut out into the body of the sleeve to provide a series of teeth 27, which, as is clearly shown in the drawthe sleeve under use. Each of the teeth 27 comprises a straight axially extending edge portion 29 which is parallel with the opposed edge 23, and the teeth 27 are preferably separated by snbstantially V-shaped cutouts .31 which intersect the cylindrical inner and outer sleeve surfaces 19 and 19", and are angled in such a manner that the cutouts face in an inclined; manner towardthe distal or free end of the sleeve 19 and of spindle rod 11.

mgs, are disposed to lie within the cylinder of rotation of Thus the cutouts 31 includea rear, forwardly inclined;

edge portion 33 and a forward. and preferably more great-,'

ly forwardly inclined edge portion 35, the edge portions- 33, 35 joining in thebody of sleeve 19 at the apexof The forward edge 35- the V of each of the cutouts 31. is preferably bevelled as at 37.

It will be observed that the tooth edges 29- are longi- 4; tudinally aligned with and, in effect, form continuations of slot edge 25, and that the cut out rear edges. 33 form tooth front edges which intersect the adjacent tooth edges 29 at an acute angle, while the forward edges 35 of cutouts 31 form tooth rear edges which intersect the adjacent tooth edges 29 at an obtuse angle.

As shown in Fig. 1, adjacent sleeves are arranged to accommodate the opposite direction of rotation. Thus for convenience the uppermost sleeve. in Fig, 1 has been designated as 19A, with its slot edges being designated as 23A, 25A, the teeth'27A being formed along slot edge 25A, and with the arrangement of the parts being otherwise identical with that already described hereinabove in connection with sleeve 19, and in particular with the cutouts formed, along edge 25A being inclined toward the outward or distal end of the sleeve and the spindle rod.

Thus the present invention provides a sleeve which may be mounted upon a cotton picking spindle rod for rotation in conjunction therewith. The, sleeve is pro videdwith an uncut edge portion along a longitudinal slot which functions as the leading edge of the slot in the.

spindle rod upon whichsuch sleeve is mounted.

In the use of the, device, the sleeve. 19 is mounted upon a spindle rod 11, and preferably is of a.v length to encase the portion of spindle rod 11 projecting outwardly be yond, slat, 15, and, further preferably is v of a length toextend, slightly intothe body of slat 15, this, extension into the body of slat 15 insome instances providing a desirable'additional' strength against accidental bending of the spindlerod during use.

The sleeve may be mounted upon anew spindle rod for the purpose, of, enhancing the picking qualities of the spindle rod, or it may be mounted upon a used or worn spindle rod for the purpose of effectiyely renewing the picking qualities thereof. In, either instance the sleeve is removable. from the spindle rod, and in the event of the sleeve becoming worn under use a simple matter of replacement may be accomplished by the removal of the ton bolls, presenting their fibers toimpingementby thesleeve under rotation, will readily expand into the slotupon being passed by the uncut sleeve edge and will be engaged by the teeth 27, providing a highly effective manner of engaging the fiber and facilitating the picking of the cottonby the rolling up of the fiber on'the sleeve exterior.

After-the spindle rods carrying the sleeves have passed,

beyond the picking zone of. the cotton picking machine,

in. well known. mannerthey-passinto. a, stripping zone in,

which thespindle-rods and thesleevesyare-passedbetween stripper: barswhich engage withthecottonwhichhas been wound upon the, sleeves: and effectively remove; the. same therefrom.

It isfound. that. the, disposition of; the teeth, and in particular the outward. inclination, of: the cutouts: formed in the. sleeve, greatly facilitate the removal Off'thd cotton from the: spindle sleeves, and I particularly due to the ability to eliminatev the use of moisture, areenabled to more. accuratelyand completely remove all ofthe fiber from the spindle assemblies. Additionally, itis foundthat such removal, in effect, partly compresses the cotton fiber into the elongated slot and has a wiping action thereon effectively cleaning the spindle rod and sleeve carried thereby for subsequent passage into the picking zone.

Thus it will be seen that the user of a cotton picking machine utilizing rod or wire-type spindles is enabled through the utilization of the sleeve of the present invention quickly'to effect repair or replacement of such sleeve wtihout the necessity of removing the spindle rods from the cotton picking machine in the event of wear thereon. It further will be seen that the present invention provides a highly efficient means for engaging cotton during picking by rotating spindle assemblies, and greatly facilitates the picking as well as the removal of the picked cotton from the spindle assemblies during stripping. I

It will be understood that while the invention is illustrated with substantially cylindrical spindle means, it is equally useful with other spindle means, whether polygonal or irregular in cross section. It is best adapted for use with spindles of uniform cross-sectional dimension throughout the length of the picking portion.

I claim:

1. A rotatable spindle assembly for cotton pickers comprising an elongated substantially cylindrical spindle rod, a drive roller fixed to said rod adjacent the inner end thereof, and a radially resilient sleeve snugly and removably embracing the outer end of said spindle rod remote from said roller and encasing a major portion of the length of said rod, said sleeve having radially inner and outer cylindrical surfaces circumferentially interrupted by a slot extending throughout the length of said sleeve, the portions of said sleeve which define said slot presenting rotatively leading and trailing edges, respectively; the sleeve portion adjacent said trailing edge having a plurality of forwardly inclined and outwardly opening substantially V-shaped cutouts and a plurality of picking teeth which define said cutouts, said teeth each having an edge portion substantially longitudinally alined with said trailing sleeve edge, said leading and trailing sleeve edges and said teeth lying in the cylinder of rotation of said sleeve.

2. A rotatable spindle assembly for cotton pickers comprising an elongated spindle rod, a drive roller fixed to said rod adjacent the inner end thereof; and a radially resilient sleeve snugly and removably embracing the outer end of said spindle rod remote from said roller and encasing a major portion of the length of said rod, said sleeve having radially inner and outer surfaces circumferentially interrupted by a slot extending throughout the length of said sleeve, the portions of said sleeve which define said slot presenting rotatively leading and trailing edges, respectively; the sleeve portion adjacent said trailing edge having a plurality of forwardly inclined and outwardly opening substantially V-shaped cutouts and a plurality of picking teeth which define said cutouts, said teeth each having an edge portion substantially longitudinally alined with said trailing sleeve edge, said leading and trailing sleeve edges and said teeth lying in the cylinder of rotation of said sleeve.

3. A rotatable spindle assembly for cotton pickers comprising an elongated spindle rod, a drive roller fixed to said rod adjacent the inner end thereof; and a radially resilient sleeve snugly and rernovably embracing the outer end of said spindle rod remote from said roller and encasing a major portion of the length of said rod, said sleeve having radially inner and outer surfaces circumferentially interrupted by a slot extending the full length of said sleeve, and the portion of said sleeve which defines one longitudinal side of said slot having a series of cutouts intersecting said sleeve surfaces and a plurality of picking teeth which define said cutouts along said one side of said slot.

4. A sleeve for encasing part of a rod type cotton picking spindle, said sleeve having radially inner and outer surfaces circumferentially interrupted by a slot extending the full length of said sleeve, and the portion of said sleeve which defines one longitudinal side of said slot having a series of cutouts intersecting said sleeve surfaces and a plurality of picking teeth which define said cutouts along said one side of said slot.

5. A sleeve as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cutouts are spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of said sleeve and said teeth have straight edge portions respectively extending longitudinally of said slot in alignment with each other.

6. A sleeve for encasing part of a rod type cotton picking spindle, said sleeve having radially inner and outer surfaces circumferentially interrupted by a slot extending the full length of said sleeve, the portion of said sleeve which defines one longitudinal side of said slot having a series of cutouts intersecting said sleeve surfaces and a plurality of picking teeth which define said cutouts along said one side of said slot, and the portion of said sleeve which defines the other longitudinal side of said slot having an edge extending straight in the axial direction of said sleeve between the axially opposite ends of the latter.

7. A sleeve for encasing part of a cylindrical rod type cotton picking spindle, said sleeve having cylindrical radially inner and outer surfaces circumferentially interrupted by a slot extending the full length of said sleeve, the portion of said sleeve which defines one longitudinal side of said slot having a series of substantially V-shaped cutouts spaced from each other longitudinally of said sleeve and a plurality of picking teeth which define said cutouts along said one side of said slot, each of said teeth having a straight edge portion extending axially of said sleeve, and front and rear edges intersecting said straight edge portion at acute and obtuse angles, respectively.

8. A sleeve as set forth in claim 7 and having a full length straight edge on the portion thereof circumferentially opposite to said cutouts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 685,439 Campbell Got. 29, 1901 862,373 Appleby Aug. 6, 1907 1,008,230 White Nov. 7, 1911 2,109,506 Rust Mar. 1, 1938 2,440,767 Baker May 4, 1948 2,795,918 Bruner et a1. June 18, 1957 

